Space shuttle Endeavor bid farewell to the universe after 19 years

The Endeavor, the youngest ship in the US shuttle fleet, returned to Earth safely, completing its final mission before retiring after 19 years of operation.

>> Shuttle Endeavor completes its final mission

Endeavor landed at Kennedy Space Center.

Endeavor landed in the darkness at Kennedy Space Center at 2:34 am yesterday in US time after a successful trip to the International Space Station (ISS). The US space agency (NASA) will retire the shuttle fleet and Endeavor will now be prepared for public display at a science museum in Los Angeles.

Endeavor's final mission was by astronaut Mark Kelly, husband of Senator Gabrielle Giffords, who was wounded in a shooting in Texas in January. Going with Mr. Kelly to ISS, there are 5 other astronauts.

Endeavor - the youngest member of the US three-shuttle shuttle fleet - was built to replace Challenger, which was destroyed in the 1986 launch.

Endeavor made its first flight on May 7, 1992. By the end of the 25th mission and finally, the ship had operated a total of 229 days in orbit, traveling more than 197.6 million kilometers.

There is only one other universe, Atlantis, who has not made the last flight. Atlantis was transferred to the defender at the Kenedey Space Center last night, ready for the final mission to ISS, scheduled for this month.

Video Endeavor returns to Earth: